Constructing the Garage Storage Cabinet...

2008-06-07

It's always interesting starting a large project on an uneven surface.  The garage floor is sloped to accommodate quick water runoff with an appreciably significant rise over a 20' run.  The area I chose has a net rise of 2½" over a 12' run, but it also has a level beveled edge where the floor and wall meet that I also had to take into account.

To get accurate measurements, I engineered a temporary tool which allowed me to assess level and plumb at the same time.  I made this using a right angle protractor and a small level.  This helped me verify that the measurements I was taking were valid in spite of the uneven work area.

Once I'd measured and cut the 2x4 to complement the floor's slope, I used the shelves to assure that my measurements would accommodate the space they required.  I made a ½" tweak and marked the floor for later reference.

Then I got to work cutting up eighteen 8" horizontal support wedges from a length of 2x4.  These wedges will be mounted to the wall to support the back corners of each shelf.

I drilled one pilot hole into each wedge and threaded a 2½" screw into it.

I spaced each wedge 36" apart horizontally and 15 & 3/8" vertically.  Each wedge had Liquid Nail applied to its wall-mated surface and was then secured to the wall with the screw.  Once secured, each wedge was individually checked for level, then collectively checked for level across the horizontal span.  Once I was satisfied with each row, I moved up to the next level.

Having finished the installation of the horizontal wedges, I applied Liquid Nail to the underside of the slope-countering boards and placed weights on the wood to ensure adhesion to the (freshly cleaned) garage floor.

It's been a busy day and I got a lot done, so I took a few preliminary measurements on the vertical 2x4 supports and called it a day.  Now it's time for pizza and a movie!

Designing Storage Cabinets for the Garage

2008-06-06

Time to take on another large project!  This one will be for my workspace in the garage.  About a year ago I purchased several Workforce Storage Organizers for storing things in the garage.  They work fine and all, but with the increase in woodworking I've been doing, everything they hold gets covered in a fine layer of sawdust, which is kind of problematic after a while.  So to overcome that issue, I've decided to construct a wall-mounted storage cabinet replete with doors to store my things in the garage.

This design takes away one column of shelves, but it adds two rows, so I'll be able to store as much as before.  I'm planning on purchasing a radial arm saw later on this year, so it will be good to have some additional room near my workbench.  This cabinet will be 7½' tall, 12'1" wide, and 19" deep.  To save a little money, I will be reusing the Workforce Storage Organizer shelves within the new storage cabinet.  I plan to start this project this weekend and finish it by Father's Day.

Craftwork Area Project Complete!

2008-06-02

As with all projects, there are invariably mid-project course corrections and revisions.  The craftwork area project is no different.  I had originally planned to make the wall-mounted shelves with backboards and mount two units to the wall.  But in the process of making the shelf, the wife indicated that she preferred a single shelf without a backboard.  Seemed reasonable, so I revised the design to make it a little more simple and added some mid-area reinforcement.

First I cut the 2x2 board down the middle at a 45° angle for structural support boards at each corner.  Then I used wood glue to affix the diagonal cuts to the side boards.  As the glue set, I used 1¼" screws to secure the diagonal boards to the side boards.

As the glue on the side boards and supports dried, I affixed the 47" 2x2 board to the top board of the shelf.  This will be the main board I'll use to secure the shelf to the in-wall studs.  Pilot holes are also drilled on the top and bottom boards for screws to be affixed to the support boards on each corner.

Here's the finished shelf unit, completely painted, with all support boards affixed.

Since I'll be mounting the shelf by myself, I built a temporary support structure to hold up the shelf while I tweaked its positioning for stud alignment and assuring that the unit is level when bolted on to the wall.

After a few minutes and a couple of tweaks, the shelf is completely bolted to the wall.  The temporary support structure is removed and busted down, and a couple of base supports are added to the shelf for additional support.  And with that, the craftwork area project is complete!

Craftwork Area Cabinet Doors Built and Installed

2008-06-01

Yesterday I cut out the door panels for the under-table storage area.  These panels were cut 20" wide and 24" tall from ¼" MDF board.  This morning I drilled the pilot holes for the hinges, door handle, magnetic catch and catch plate.  I drilled the holes on one board and then used that board as the template for drilling the holes in the second board.  The task went so quickly that I only managed a few photos shown here.

I chose to use nuts and bolts instead of screws since the MDF board was fairly thin and I tend to have better luck with bolts in those kinds of conditions.

Installation of the storage cabinet doors went pretty quickly.  I used my 24" level to assure that the doors were lined up properly and centered over the cabinet openings.  Now to resume work on the last phase of the project: the wall-mounted shelves.